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I suppose it could be construed as either pessimism or neutrality. If things turn out well, I consider that to be in line with my expectations. I call that realism - Life has been great to me so far so I expect that will continue.

I suppose it could be construed as either pessimism or neutrality. If things turn out well, I consider that to be in line with my expectations. I call that realism - Life has been great to me so far so I expect that will continue.

I get where you are coming from. People love to doom monger (esp on game forums) but it's rarely the case that things are a terrible as they make out most of the time.

So in case you're done bringing pretty much nothing to the table Hypernetic, prices in Europe always floated around roughly 60$ with expansions at about 30-40$, ergo a fixed price point is actually better for me. If that wasn't the case in the US, well be glad you had it for a while.

Now if you want to bitch about something, tell me how 60$ = 60 euro and we can talk about game prices actually going up.

As for everyone else, "hatred" is subjective and the internet sucks at conveying proper emotion. Assume nothing from posts and you'll be fine.

So in case you're done bringing pretty much nothing to the table Hypernetic, prices in Europe always floated around roughly 60$ with expansions at about 30-40$, ergo a fixed price point is actually better for me. If that wasn't the case in the US, well be glad you had it for a while.

Now if you want to bitch about something, tell me how 60$ = 60 euro and we can talk about game prices actually going up.

As for everyone else, "hatred" is subjective and the internet sucks at conveying proper emotion. Assume nothing from posts and you'll be fine.

There is 3.5 million results of people crying about the increase in PC games costs from $49.99 to $59.99.

Cartridge based game prices are IRRELEVANT due to the inherent costs associated with producing said games. Carts are MUCH more expensive to produce. Each cart has an integrated circuit board, memory, a battery, etc, etc, etc CDs are just stamped from a piece of plastic.

There is 3.5 million results of people crying about the increase in PC games costs from $49.99 to $59.99.

Cartridge based game prices are IRRELEVANT due to the inherent costs associated with producing said games. Carts are MUCH more expensive to produce. Each cart has an integrated circuit board, memory, a battery, etc, etc, etc CDs are just stamped from a piece of plastic.

But the key point I'm not sure you fully appreciate is that the article I linked to (while I admit not 100% relevant) references actual factual material, and while it principally concerns consoles its not completely unrealistic to expect similar trends in PC games.

What you 'reference' is lots of people moaning. This is not a particularly valid rebuttal. The point is you could link to dozens of people saying the moon landings were faked or that pine nuts are the secret tools of the antichrist, it doesn't make it true.

Now I'm not saying within the millions of search results there isn't evidence that game prices have increased, hell I'd be really interested to read that. But as your impression seems to run contrary to the general opinion of the other posters in this thread (which again, let me stress this, does not make you wrong) it does rather put the burden of proof on you, in much the same way as someone suggesting Gravity does not exist.

I can't speak for the others but what I'd like is for you to change my opinion using actual evidence. Posting sweeping claims with no evidence does not achieve this. Likewise, posting flippant remarks such as "zzzz" and "Europe is of no consequence." which though perhaps made in jest, do not exactly endear you to others or encourage us to take your word as fact.

Also notice the quote in that article where Bobby Kotick talks about increasing the price of games to around $60.

"We have not seen a lot of consumer resistance at the higher price points, and we expect that all of our next-generation products will be launched at $60 price points," - Kotick

Further confirming the fact that games increased in price with this current generation.

That's interesting, and I can certainly agree that in recent years we have seen a minority of AAA titles put out at higher price points e.g COD:Blops

On this point I'm absolutely in agreement that prices have gone up, what I and seemingly others thought is that over a longer time frame they have stayed largely the same. If you're referring to recent trends only then it sounds like everyone has been talking at cross purposes as I don't think anybody would dispute the above (that's the cue for someone to do exactly that ;P)

The full view images seem to be taking a painfully long time to load for me but the PS1 image is really interesting to see games priced in the upper 50s. Annoyingly there is no currency indicator but based on the OP's comments and mention of Wal-Mart I'm guessing that's US dollars

Annoyingly I used to be in one of those mail order catalogue things for games (Special Reserve I think it was called) but threw them all out. I'd be really interested to go back and see the sort of prices.

I remember paying something like £35 at release for C&C which came out in 1995 which as a direct comparison to today's prices would suggest an increase but allowing for inflation of 4% (and my shonky maths) equals £68.

Edit, just realised I should have provided a point of comparison: 3 of my most recent purchases have been Diablo 3 (~£40), Guild Wars 2 (~£50) and Endless Space (~£21)

That's interesting, and I can certainly agree that in recent years we have seen a minority of AAA titles put out at higher price points e.g COD:Blops

On this point I'm absolutely in agreement that prices have gone up, what I and seemingly others thought is that over a longer time frame they have stayed largely the same. If you're referring to recent trends only then it sounds like everyone has been talking at cross purposes as I don't think anybody would dispute the above (that's the cue for someone to do exactly that ;P)

The full view images seem to be taking a painfully long time to load for me but the PS1 image is really interesting to see games priced in the upper 50s. Annoyingly there is no currency indicator but based on the OP's comments and mention of Wal-Mart I'm guessing that's US dollars

Annoyingly I used to be in one of those mail order catalogue things for games (Special Reserve I think it was called) but threw them all out. I'd be really interested to go back and see the sort of prices.

I remember paying something like £35 at release for C&C which came out in 1995 which as a direct comparison to today's prices would suggest an increase but allowing for inflation of 4% (and my shonky maths) equals £68.

Edit, just realised I should have provided a point of comparison: 3 of my most recent purchases have been Diablo 3 (~£40), Guild Wars 2 (~£50) and Endless Space (~£21)

Anybody got any old mail order catalogs from pre2000?

Yeah UK prices are all over the place. Generally in the US all "AAA" games are $59.99. Some niche games can be $39.99-$49.99 but they are rare. Handheld games are about $39.99 (3DS) and that's about it.

For reference both D3 and GW2 are $59.99 US. Prior to CoD: MW2 pretty much all PC games were $49.99. MW2 was $59.99 and from then on more and more games were released at that price, now they all are.

I think you'll find our mutual friend doesn't really get the concept of 'inflation' and how game prices haven't really kept pace with it over the years. Games in the UK have floated around £30-35 for several years now, whilst incomes have largely gone up.

Also I'm wondering how much the 'console tax' impacts things. Every title sold on 360 or PS3 over here is about £8-10 more than it's PC version because Sony & Microsoft charge the publishers a license fee. I wonder how that factors into things state side. This $60 figure that's being quoted is for console titles.